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Tuesday, October 18, 2011

News about Sister Wives....Bigamy Probe

from TMZ...
'Sister Wives' Star: Bigamy Criminal Probe Is Ruining Our Lives

Polygamist Kody Brown -- star of the TLC reality show "Sister Wives" -- says a police investigation into his multiple marriages is destroying his 21-member family ... and it just ain't fair.

Brown and fam just filed new court docs in Salt Lake City to support their lawsuit against Utah, which challenges the state's bigamy law ... claiming it's simply unconstitutional.

In the docs, Brown rails against a police investigation into the family that was launched shortly after his reality show debuted last year ... claiming the looming threat of prosecution is turning off employers and taking a toll on his family's health.

Kody explains ... wife #1, Meri Brown, was fired from her job because her employers were concerned about the investigation ... noting, "Our continued labeling as presumptive felons has proven a barrier in finding new positions."

According to the L.A. Times, Kody also claimed the family freaks out every time they see a police car ... afraid officers are coming to split up the family and arrest the adults.

in fact, Kody claims the situation has caused wife #4, Robyn Sullivan, to suffer a "dangerous" loss in weight.

As TMZ previously reported, NO ONE has been convicted on bigamy charges in Utah in recent memory ... but if the Browns become the first, they could face up to 5 years in prison.

 ________________________________
 
The family from cable television's polygamous "Sister Wives" reality show has told a federal judge in Utah how much they've been hurt by the threat of prosecution under the state's bigamy law.
Kody Brown and his wives wrote in new court papers that they've lost jobs, were forced to move to Nevada and suffered harm to their reputations after police launched an investigation last year after the fall 2010 launch of their TLC show.
In July, Brown and wives Meri, Janelle, Christine and Robin, filed a lawsuit challenging Utah's bigamy law in Salt Lake City's U.S. District Court. They contended that the law is unconstitutional and unfairly applied to polygamists.
"Because the Browns are open about their polygamist lifestyle, the criminal bigamy statute has the effect of publicly labeling them as presumptive felons," the Brown's Washington, D.C.-based attorney, Jonathan Turley, wrote in court papers filed Monday. "The statute further brands them as immoral and societal outsiders."
The court papers were a response to petition filed by the Utah Attorney General's Office asking a federal judge to dismiss the case. It wasn't clear on Tuesday whether a judge would issue a decision based on the court pleadings or schedule a hearing for oral arguments.
State prosecutors contend the Browns - who haven't been charged - aren't facing any real harm and won't likely face prosecution, because the state has rarely prosecuted individuals for bigamy without also prosecuting underlying crimes, such as underage marriages, abuse or welfare fraud.
But the Browns said the harms to their family are real and that the public statements of Utah County prosecutors actually support their contention that prosecution remains a threat. In one magazine article, for example, Deputy Utah County Attorney Donna Kelley said "the Browns have definitely made it easier for us by admitting to felonies on national TV."
Turley contended that such statements have had a "chilling effect" on the family's right to free speech, influencing what they can say publicly or on their television show, and curtailing their ability to practice their religion.
Affidavits from Kody, Meri and Janelle Brown detailed the financial impact on the family. Those included a loss of sales accounts for Kody Brown and the termination of Meri Brown's employment because her bosses were concerned about the criminal investigation and the public statements suggesting she was a felon.
"Our continued labeling as presumptive felons has proven a barrier in finding new positions for the adults in Nevada," Kody Brown stated in his affidavit.
Other financial impacts included a loss of health insurance, moving expenses, increased housing expenses and travel expenses because the Browns must travel back to Utah if they want to attend their church.
The Browns also stated that their children - more than a dozen of them - have also suffered at school, where some of the children have endured remarks about their family being labeld as criminals.
"We literally live day to day without knowing whether our family will be destroyed by a decision of some prosecutor in Utah to charge us," Janelle Brown's affidavit stated.
Under Utah law, it is illegal for unmarried persons to cohabitate, or "purport" to be married. A person is also guilty of bigamy if they hold multiple legal marriage licenses.
The third-degree felony is punishable by up to five years in state prison. Both men and women can be prosecuted under the law, which also applies to unmarried, monogamous couples that live together.
The Browns are members of the Apostolic United Brethren, one of handful of self-described Mormon fundamentalist churches that continue the practice as part of their faith. The polygamy advocacy group Principles Voices estimates there are about 40,000 fundamentalists who practice or believe in polygamy living in Utah and other western states. The practice is a legacy of the early teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The mainstream church abandoned polygamy in 1890 as Utah moved toward statehood.
Like most polygamists in Utah, Brown is legally married only to his first wife, Meri. He subsequently "wed" Janelle, Christine and Robyn only in religious ceremonies and the couples consider themselves "spiritually married."

29 comments:

  1. This family has more balls than a McDonalds play area.

    Seriously, you have GOT to be kidding me. Janelle: "We literally live day to day without knowing whether our family will be destroyed by a decision of some prosecutor in Utah to charge us" Liar, liar, pants on fire Janelle.

    I really hope someone in Utah judicial system gets tired of this bullshit, poking of the hornets nest and actually DOES start making their lives a living hell.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Female Attorney, others, someone send me these papers if you have them, and I will post them.

    ReplyDelete
  3. "Our continued labeling as presumptive felons has proven a barrier in finding new positions for the adults in Nevada," Kody Brown stated in his affidavit.

    ReplyDelete
  4. And I have to say, this site is really entertaining the hell out of me!

    ReplyDelete
  5. And your comments are us!
    Thank you Wendy.

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  6. HOW is it hurting them? they got 4 new houses and don't work, and get paid for a show, and now sell goop.
    PLEASE
    Persecution Syndrome is right!!!

    AND THEY SAID ON ENT.TNT. that they didn't leave becuase of FEAR REMEMBER?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wendy your comments are hilarious and spot on. This lawsuit is a big crock. I mean please, the family comes out on national tv and admits to breaking the law... again on freaking national tv and then has the audacity to sue? I'm also speechless at the number of weak-minded emotional nonthinkers supporting this clan and actually feeling sorry for them.

    All I know is that Robyn's boobs got bigger prepregnancy while she is stated to have lost weight. From flat as a pancake to way busty on the Ellen show last year. Ok that had nothing to do with the lawsuit haha but I'm just happy to find thus forum so I can comment about it.

    What is different from any family going on a reality show and admitting to breaking a law like say growing pot and then suing for being investigated? Complete and utter hogwash.

    ReplyDelete
  8. "He also says they get very upset whenever a police car is seen. Because of this, wife #4 Robyn Sullivan, has lost a dangerous amount of weight."

    from another post on the same thing...
    POOR ROBYN, I think she told us this already. POOR THEM. I gave them a chance. They are NOT CHRISTIAN

    ReplyDelete
  9. This really is disappointing.
    They don't want us to talk about them, then they file something that has such ridicilous things.
    They live better than most of us!
    Sad bunch of people. Sadder who will buy off them. Kody has sold 2 grand of that stuff?

    ReplyDelete
  10. TECHNICALLY they are no longer in a'co-cohabitation' situation as the law states is necessary to be breaking the law. They live in four separate houses.

    Here's where the "but for" legal argument comes in -

    BUT FOR the fact that they went on national television, they would have none of these problems. Their problems (as stated in their arguments) are all self-imposed.

    I can't believe they got a real lawyer to file this garbage.

    ReplyDelete
  11. GOJI Juice said: "I can't believe they got a real lawyer to file this garbage."

    I wish they would impose stiff penalties on attys who file frivolous cases like this. That is the only way it would stop. As it stands, just the notoriety of being attached to a 'celebrity' makes it worth their while.

    This is literally just wasting the courts time.

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  12. Oh, and one more thing. The claim that they've been financially harmed by the Utah law is ridiculous.

    They were not arrested, arraigned, or convicted of anything.

    This would be similar to me saying that I've been financially harmed by my credit score and that my score is like a scarlett A on my back. So I sue the credit scoring agency for financial harm because I don't like their rules.

    Or, it would be similar to me suing the State of Arizona for their traffic cameras because it slows traffic so much and prevents me from getting to work on time, resulting in my job termination. And now I live in California because I couldn't find another job.

    Absolute garbage.

    ReplyDelete
  13. And as far as their attorney's comment: "Because the Browns are open about their polygamist lifestyle, the criminal bigamy statute has the effect of publicly labeling them as presumptive felons,"


    Polygamy=felony correct? Ok, so what else should the public presume? That the law shouldn't apply to them? That only the laws we want to follow should count?

    ReplyDelete
  14. WHY don't hey just stop!
    Remember the Entertainment tonight piece where they LAUGHED and said they didn't leave because they were scared? they should play that in court. (June, July?? of the postings)

    They are starting to make me mad. Enough is enough. No one has done a thing to them.

    They are getting paid more than they ever have, and want to say they can't get work? WHERE DID THEY TRY TO THAT WAS EMPEDED JANELLE?

    ReplyDelete
  15. They only had 4 comments on TMZ which is a scream!!!LOL

    ReplyDelete
  16. Their antics this last week, well this last 2 days, has really annoyed me. Nonsense with the FB page, this lawsuit, and the stupid immoral Liv program. They are more likely to see the inside of a jail from the Liv scam than they were to be arrested for polig.

    Now you can arrest them for anything. I don't care. They deserve to just go away. This may start slapping back on TLC. While TLC is fine with increased ratings of course, they may not be fine with the backlash and potential problems from the crap these folks get into. I'm not liking this family at all anymore.

    I'd bite them but don't want to get germs in mouth. Their products damn sure wouldn't cure me from their germs.

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  17. They are getting annoying.
    They are so "distressed" they need to file papers....
    AND SELL PRODUCTS !HAHAHAHAHAH

    ReplyDelete
  18. LMAO Border Collie ...No worries bc I think Karma has ur back on this one! Karma's bite will be severe & her wrath will be unleashed bc afterall Karma's a bitch & she's beyond pissed!!..lol
    Everyone has valid points here too! Heck Utah should use ya'll for their litigation team against the Brown's :)
    Also pretty damn convenient Jody's speaking debut is weekend of the episode that Wives start being "health conscious " ....they're just working every PR angle possible :/

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  19. **Kody ** speaking debut

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  20. Only in America can you sue the government for enforcing laws.

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  21. "Our continued labeling as presumptive felons has proven a barrier in finding new positions for the adults in Nevada,"

    PROVE IT

    "The statute further brands them as immoral and societal outsiders."

    NO YOU BRANDED YOURSELF BY SHOWING YOUR AWFUL PERSONALITY ON TV

    ReplyDelete
  22. C Brownie, this BC is looking for Karma right now. I already found a St Bernard and he said even he can't save these folks. So when Karma gets to them, it's all over.

    Looks like there are a lot of us who are so over being nice and accepting of these folks, and giving them the benefit of the doubt. I don't care how inferior that bird Robyn makes them feel. They deserve it.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I don't care if a bunch of women are so lacking in self-esteem that they need to all Hop On The Same Pop...as long as they keep children out of the equation. Of course...that isn't possible with Mormon Polygamy/Plural Wifery because that's all about the number of so-called Chosen Progeny that will supposedly bestow upon the human with the penis his "Eternal Glory".

    What I do care about is a guy who can't support his concubines or his progeny but whose "family values" allow him to take public funds and file bankruptcy numerous times. The Browns are a self-absorbed, pitiful joke...

    ReplyDelete
  24. http://m.sltrib.com/sltrib/mobile/52736028-78/brown-kody-utah-family.html.csp#disqus_thread

    The Browns are NOT LIKED in UTAH!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Getting Pissed said...
    Only in America can you sue the government for enforcing laws.


    THE QUOTE OF THE MONTH! RIGHT THERE!
    BWAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH

    ReplyDelete
  26. these guys want to claim the religious and moral high ground when breaking a law and being public about it and then reaping the unintended consequences.

    well, morally and religiously, you get the law CHANGED FIRST before you can scream unlawful persecution.

    why would GOD instruct you to break a law to prove your love and devotion to him?

    Kody - you were fine remaining underground w/Utah's blessing. you had to go screw it up because you just HAVE to be in the limelight! enjoy!

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  27. They are trying to get the law changed. And, the big mouth cops didn't help things.

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  28. i understand that SS. my point was you get the law changed FIRST not after the fact when you KNOWINGLY broke it and then cry Persecution!

    ReplyDelete